Flexible debris collection apparatus

ABSTRACT

A debris collection apparatus that is generally shaped as a rectangular sheet and fabricated of a flexible plastic material. The apparatus&#39; front-to-back form is that of a shallow arch or upwardly extending curve. A leading edge of the apparatus is beveled to facilitate the debris pick-up process. Two corners of the apparatus are formed with diagonally-oriented finger tabs, that are raised above the surface of the rest of the sheet, or cut-outs defining handles. The debris collection apparatus may be manufactured using an injection molding process. The apparatus is fabricated of lightweight materials chosen to provide an appropriate degree of flexibility, resiliency, durability, and longevity. The apparatus possesses a simple, yet scalable, design that may be economically manufactured and sold to provide for widespread use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application derives priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/572,034, filed: May 17, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cleaning implements and, moreparticularly, to an apparatus used in collecting debris for disposaland, even more particularly, to a flexible debris collection apparatusthat may be folded into a U-shape to retain any debris contained withinand facilitate its transfer into a trash receptacle.

2. Description of the Background

Conventional dustpans consist of a rigid or semi-rigid, metal orplastic, flat tray with low walls on three sides and a thin edge on thefourth side. In use, the thin edge is placed against a flat surfacecontaining dust or other small particulate matter and a broom or brushis used to transfer the debris over the thin edge and onto the topsurface of the flat tray. A handle is typically attached to the trayand/or one of the low walls in order to permit ease of manipulation.Dust/particulate matter present on the dustpan is then transferred intoa trash receptacle whereupon the dustpan may then be stored for futureuse.

The present inventor is not the first to attempt to improve upontraditional dustpans used to pick up dust and other small particulatematter from floors and other horizontal surfaces. Variations on thetheme are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 234,644 to Alexander, 411,855 toKlein, 422,240 to Marshall, and 5,020,185 to Hoefler, as well as U.S.Design Pat. No. D257,406 to Ouellette.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 234,644 to Alexander and 411,855 to Klein disclosedustpans that are formed by folding a single section of sheet metal.U.S. Pat. No. 422,240 to Marshall shows a rigid dustpan withintermediate arc to improve dust/particulate matter retention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,185 to Hoefler discloses a disposable plasticdustpan that may be stored as a flat sheet in a stack ready for use.When needed, one sheet is peeled away from the stack and folded to forma dustpan. A non-hardening adhesive is used to hold the sheet in thefolded orientation and to seal one edge to the surface requiringcleaning. After use, the dustpan is sealed to trap dust and debriswithin a folded pocket and then the entire device is discarded.

U.S. Design Pat. No. D257,406 to Ouellette shows a pet litter retriever.Two rear corners of the apparatus are formed with integral finger tabsthat assist in providing a better grip.

Unfortunately, each of these prior art devices fall short of the optimumconfiguration for a debris collection apparatus. The Alexander, Klein,and Marshall apparatuses are rigid units formed with a pocket that isclosed on all but one side. The arc formed in the tray of the Marshallapparatus is also rigid in nature. The Hoefler device, while fabricatedof a flexible material, does not provide the user with any flexibilityas to the form the apparatus may take during use (i.e. it is designed tobe folded into a predetermined configuration). Finally, the finger tabsof the Ouellette device merely provide the means for holding onto thedevice, they do not allow for the reconfiguration of the device into auser-determined form.

To the best of the knowledge of the present inventor, no prior flexibledebris collector design intended to address all of the problems outlinedabove exists. Therefore, there remains a need for an improved collectionapparatus, and it would be greatly advantageous to provide a flexibledebris collector that (1) remains fully open during the debris loadingprocess in order to maximize area onto which debris may be placed, (2)provides the user with virtually complete control over the configurationof the apparatus during the debris pick up and transportation (i.e. to atrash receptacle) process, and yet maintains a constant pressure on abeveled leading edge to ensure thorough pick-up, (3) possesses fingertabs that assist a user in optimizing the configuration of the apparatusbased on use, (4) possesses a simple, yet scalable, design fabricated ofdurable, lightweight, flexible materials, and (5) may be economicallymanufactured and sold to provide for widespread use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to providean improved debris collection apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a debriscollection apparatus that facilitates the pick-up, retention, andtransfer of debris into a trash receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a debriscollection apparatus with a beveled leading edge.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a debriscollection apparatus that is generally rectangular in shape, with afront-to-back form that is a shallow arch or upwardly extending curve tomaintain a constant pressure on the beveled leading edge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a debriscollection apparatus having finger tabs or handles that assist with itsusage.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a debriscollection apparatus that possesses a simple and scalable design.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a debriscollection apparatus that is fabricated of a lightweight materialproviding an appropriate degree of flexibility, resiliency, durability,and longevity.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a debriscollection apparatus that is inexpensive to manufacture and sell toprovide for widespread use and disposability.

These and other objects are accomplished by an apparatus that isgenerally shaped as a rectangular sheet (i.e. possessing four 90°corners) and fabricated of a flexible, resilient plastic material. Theapparatus' front-to-back form is that of a shallow arch or upwardlyextending curve. A leading edge of the apparatus is beveled tofacilitate the debris pick-up process. Two corners of the apparatus,those opposite the leading edge, are formed with diagonally-orientedfinger tabs that are raised above the surface of the rest of the sheet.The tabs may be formed with a textured top surface to increase thecoefficient of friction between the tabs and the hands/fingers of a userduring the debris pickup/disposal process. An alternative embodiment ofthe present invention is formed with diagonally-oriented cut-outsdefining handles, in place of the finger tabs, in the two cornersopposite the leading edge.

While the rectangular form is preferred, other quadrilateral shapes(e.g. trapezoids) may be used for the apparatus of the presentinvention. The present invention may be manufactured using an injectionmolding process. The present invention is fabricated of lightweightmaterials chosen to provide an appropriate degree of flexibility,resiliency, durability, and longevity. The present invention possesses asimple, yet scalable, design that may be economically manufactured andsold to provide for widespread use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiments and certain modifications thereof when takentogether with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a flexible debris collector 10 according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the flexible debris collector 10 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a close-up, side view of a leading edge 20 of the flexibledebris collector 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a flexible debris collector 60 according to analternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are, respectively, top and side views of a flexible debriscollection apparatus 10 according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. The apparatus 10 generally comprises arectangularly-shaped sheet (i.e. possessing four 90° corners) with a topsurface 12 and a bottom surface 14. The apparatus 10 is preferablyfabricated from polypropylene, polycarbonate, or other flexible,resilient, commercially-available plastic sheet stock formed by sheetextrusion using conventional methods. The extruded sheet stock in rollform is then economically die-cut and stamped into the illustrated form.One skilled in the art will understand that any material possessing anappropriate amount of flexibility and resiliency may be used, and othersuitable manufacturing methods may be employed such as an injectionmolding process. Additionally, while the rectangular form may bepreferred, the apparatus 10 of the present invention may take adifferent quadrilateral shape, such as a trapezoid.

The preferred front-to-back form of the apparatus 10 is that of ashallow arch or curve that extends upwardly toward the center from thesurface 50 on which the device rests. In other words, the top surface 12of the apparatus is slightly convex while the bottom surface 14 isslightly concave.

A leading edge 20 of the apparatus, shown in enlarged detail in FIG. 3,is beveled (i.e. the bottom surface 14 extends farther forward than thetop surface 12) to facilitate the debris pick-up process. This bevelingof the leading edge 20 allows particulate matter that is very small insize to load onto the apparatus 10 of the present invention. A trailingedge 40 of the apparatus 10 may be squared-off or beveled. Two outeredges 22 of the apparatus 10 are typically squared-off.

Two corners 16 of the apparatus 10, those opposite the leading edge 20or adjoining the trailing edge 40, are formed with integral,diagonally-oriented finger tabs 30 that are raised above the top surface12 of the rest of the sheet. The tabs 30 may be formed with a scored,ribbed or otherwise textured top surface 32 to increase the coefficientof friction between the tabs 30 and the hands/fingers of a user duringthe debris pickup/disposal process discussed in detail immediatelybelow.

In use, the apparatus 10 of the present invention is positioned on asurface with the leading edge 20 proximate the debris that is to bepicked-up. While holding onto one or both of the tabs 30 the debris istransferred onto the top surface 12 of the apparatus 10. This may beaccomplished by holding the apparatus 10 still and pushing the debrisonto it with, for example, a broom. Or, the transfer may be effectuatedby holding the debris stationary and sliding the apparatus 10 under thedebris. The efficiency of either method is increased by the presence ofthe beveled leading edge 20, and the front-to-back arcuate form whichmaintains a constant pressure on the beveled leading edge 20.

Once the debris has been transferred onto the apparatus' top surface 12,a user may grasp the tabs 30 in order to curl the outer edges 22 of theapparatus upward to partially enclose the debris. When a user performsthis action, the top surface 12 temporarily furls inward and the debrisis constrained at the sides by the curled-up outer edges 22 and at thetrailing edge 40 by the presence of the user. The leading edge 20 may beangled slightly upward by the user, thereby keeping the debris frommoving toward that edge 20, as he/she carries the apparatus 10 to atrash receptacle. Upon arrival at the trash receptacle, the user mayangle the leading edge downward to transfer the debris from theapparatus to the receptacle.

FIG. 4 provides a top view of a flexible debris collection apparatus 60according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Thealternative apparatus 60 possesses all of the features (e.g. leadingedge 20), functionality (e.g. curling the outer edges 22 upward topartially enclose any debris), and manufacturing methods (e.g.die-cutting extruded sheet stock) associated with the preferredembodiment except for the finger tabs 30 visible in FIG. 1. In place ofthe finger tabs, the apparatus 60 is formed with cut-outs 70 proximatetwo corners 16 that define two handles. The cut-outs 70 provide a userwith the means for grasping and manipulating the apparatus 60 during adebris disposal cycle.

The flexibility and resiliency of the material of construction becomesof paramount importance during this usage cycle because the axis ofcurvature created by the retention/disposal process is perpendicular tothe axis of curvature present when the apparatus 10, 60 is at rest. Thepresent invention is designed to withstand a large number of operativecycles of this type.

As is evident from the above disclosure, the apparatus 10, 60 of thepresent invention possesses a simple, yet scalable, design that may beeconomically manufactured and sold to provide for widespread use. Theapparatus' design allows multiple units to be stacked and packed in asingle dispenser for economical shipping. The apparatus utilizeslightweight materials chosen to provide the appropriate degree offlexibility, resiliency, durability, and longevity required by thenature of its usage, and yet its cost is minimal to allow readydisposal.

Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiment and certainmodifications of the concept underlying the present invention, variousother embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of theembodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to thoseskilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept.It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.

1. A debris collection apparatus comprising: a planar article formed asa quadrilateral further comprising; a top surface, said top surfacebeing slightly convex; a bottom surface, said bottom surface beingslightly concave; a leading edge formed between said top and bottomsurfaces; a first outer edge formed between said top and bottom surfacesand joined to said leading edge at a first corner; a trailing edgeformed between said top and bottom surfaces and joined to said firstouter edge at a second corner; and a second outer edge formed betweensaid top and bottom surfaces and joined to said trailing edge at a thirdcorner and joined to said leading edge at a fourth corner; a first tabformed on said top surface of said planar article proximate said secondcorner, said first tab further comprising a top surface; and a secondtab formed on said top surface of said planar article proximate saidthird corner, said second tab further comprising a top surface; whereindebris is placed on said top surface and said first and second outeredges are curled upward to partially enclose and constrain movement ofsaid debris for transportation of said debris to a trash receptacle. 2.The debris collection apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidleading edge is beveled.
 3. The debris collection apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said top surfaces of said first and second tabs aretextured.
 4. A debris collection apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid quadrilateral is a rectangle.
 5. A debris collection apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said quadrilateral is a trapezoid.
 6. Adebris collection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said topsurface and said first and second outer edges are curled upward to forma U-shape.
 7. A debris collection apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid top surface, bottom surface, leading edge, first outer edge,trailing edge, second outer edge, first tab and second tab are formedfrom a single material by an injection molding process.
 8. A debriscollection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said single materialis flexible plastic material.
 9. A debris collection apparatuscomprising: a planar article formed as a quadrilateral furthercomprising; a top surface, said top surface being slightly convex; abottom surface, said bottom surface being slightly concave; a leadingedge formed between said top and bottom surfaces; a first outer edgeformed between said top and bottom surfaces and joined to said leadingedge at a first corner; a trailing edge formed between said top andbottom surfaces and joined to said first outer edge at a second corner;and a second outer edge formed between said top and bottom surfaces andjoined to said trailing edge at a third corner and joined to saidleading edge at a fourth corner; a first handle formed in said planararticle proximate said second corner; and a second handle formed in saidplanar article proximate said third corner; wherein debris is placed onsaid top surface and said first and second outer edges are curled upwardto partially enclose and constrain movement of said debris fortransportation of said debris to a trash receptacle.
 10. The debriscollection apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said leading edge isbeveled.
 11. The debris collection apparatus according to claim 10,wherein said quadrilateral is formed as a rectangle.
 12. The debriscollection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said quadrilateralis formed as a trapezoid.
 13. The debris collection apparatus accordingto claim 10, wherein said top surface and said first and second outeredges are curled upward to form a U-shape.
 14. The debris collectionapparatus according to claim 10 wherein said top surface, bottomsurface, leading edge, first outer edge, trailing edge, second outeredge, first handle and second handle are integrally formed as a unitarybody from flexible plastic material by an injection molding process. 15.A debris collection apparatus comprising: a section of resilient plasticmaterial die-cut and stamped into a quadrilateral form with a topsurface, a bottom surface, a leading edge, a trailing edge bounded bytwo corners, and a shallow arched cross-section running from saidleading edge to said trailing edge and concave upward, said leading edgefurther comprising an elongate linear edge with beveled cross-section tofacilitate debris pick-up of small particulate matter, said two cornersfurther comprising diagonally-oriented finger tabs raised above saidarched cross-section; whereby debris lying on a flat surface may bescooped up by placing the leading edge of said apparatus on said flatsurface, the arched cross-section maintaining a constant pressure on thebeveled leading edge, sliding the apparatus under the debris and liftingsaid debris on said apparatus into a waste can.